It's his second FBS offer, the first of which came back in August from FAU. It marks what should be an eventful recruiting trail for the 6-5, 320-pound former basketball player. Merrick played varsity football for the first time in 2013.

He has all the measurables according to Jenkins, with a 31-inch vertical leap, a 400-pound bench press, a 3.9 GPA and a 5.1-seconds time in the 40-yard dash.

“He’s still learning the game,” Jenkins said. “He’s a great kid. He’s going to be big-time," Jenkins said. "FAU offered him on the spot, just looking at him, in the spring. But this is that first real big offer.”

Merrick didn't even play football his sophomore year.

“I gave it a go at football the first year and I just wanted to get a year in with basketball,” Merrick said last summer.

This year he dropped basketball and the football experience looks like it is going to pay plenty of dividends.